UK Political weblog

Archive for the category “Trade Unions”

Yesterday in Parliament, David Cameron suggested that even more legal restrictions may be introduced to control our Trade Unions. He favoured the idea that no strike may be called unless at least 50% of the union members cast a vote.

We already have probably the most draconian anti trade union laws in Europe, a fact which ‘New’ Labour , to their shame, did little to balance. The right to withdraw labour in persuit of a just settlement in a dispute is a right that if abolished leads along the path back to serfdom. The benefits, comforts and rights that we enjoy to day in our standard of living have been hard won by thousands of our forebears and we owe it to them and indeed to ourselves and to our children, to stand up to those who seek our domination.

Yes, in the event of strike action we the public may suffer some inconvenience but that is a price worth paying for freedom. The early trade unionists suffered far worse for future generations; abuse, violence, imprisonment and deportation. Are we now so softened by the life improvements that they gave us that we no longer have the guts to stand up to injustice?

Cameron believes that over 50% should exercise their vote in a strike ballot; well, how about applying the same rule to electing MPs. The voter turn-out can be 30% or less in some constituencies and very, very, few are elected with more than 50% of the votes cast. Now there would be a problem!

Interesting that at a time when the BA strike is in progress and Railway workers Union have announced the date for a strike, although negotiations continue, the BBC chose to give a plug on Saturday Live to a new book by Stephen Whyles, a strike breaker ( a scab or a blackleg) from the miners strike in 1984.

If like me, youhave been somewhat confused over the Total Lindsey Oil Refinery dispute, whereby Total are on the one hand sacking their ’employees’ and on the other hand calling them ‘contractors’ then this editorial should help to unravel some of the confusion.